Control mechanism



Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE v coNrRor. MECHANISM Victor F. Zahodiakin, Short Hills, N. J.

Application August 15, 1942," Serial No. 454,903 6 Claims. (01. 192-67) My invention relates to control mechanism of the type comprising a cam for periodically actuating a cam follower which,in the same periodic manner, actuates a suitable control member such,

for example, as the member which effects the firing operation of a machine gun or the like.

My invention, in one important aspect thereof, relates to mechanism of the character described wherein a tubular cam-carrying member is mounted for rotatable movement about a fixed axis, said tubular member having'a shaft disposed therein for longitudinal movement. in opposite directions, said tubular member and said shaft being joined by a splined connection whereby rotatable movement of the shaft is imparted't said tubular member.

My invention, in another important aspect thereof, relates to mechanism for synchronizing the firing of a machine gun with an aircraft propeller, such mechanism being operable as desired by separate control systems.

Various other objects, advantages and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the control mechanism, cam-carrying and cam-actuating mechanism, features and combinations of the character hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

For an understanding of myinvention and for an illustration of one of the forms thereof, reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view, partly inelevation, showing the control mechanism of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line. 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is anv elevational view showing some of theparts of my novel control mechanism disposed in assembled relation;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of Fig. 3 with the parts in dis-assembled relation;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View showing the end of a power-applying shaft; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view showing the shaft ofFig. 5 associated with the splined shaft of my invention.

In one of its important aspects, my invention relates to a control mechanism utilizable for synchronizing with an aircraft propeller the firing operation of a machine gun, a gun of other desired type, or other suitable projecting device, such guns or projecting device being hereinafter generically termed a machine gun. In amore general aspect, my invention relates to control mechanism comprising an actuating cam and an actuated cam follower which delivers energy impulses to any selected member or equivalent havingany desired control, indicating or other operative function. I Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated ahousing I which defines an interior chamber 2, the housing I, in the vertical side wall thereof toward the right, Fig- 1, being provided .witha circular opening 3 which communicates with said chamber 2. In alinement with the opening 3, a head or cap 4 is secured exteriorly to said vertical sidewall by screws or studs 4a. This head 4 is provided with a central passage in which is disposed a sleeve 5 fixed to the head 4 in suitabletions 6a andfib having reduced diameter as The aforesaid section 6a of the shaft6 has a clutch ring I threaded thereto, the flat side of this ring at the right, Fig. 1, engaging the flanged end ofsaid shaft B andthe adjacent alined surface of the sleeve 5. With an arrangementof this character, the clutch ring I is secured to the shaft 6 for rotatable movement therewith as a unit. As shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the clutch ring 1, beyond the threaded shaft section 6c, is formed with vertically alined, spaced lugs la and 1d, Fig. 5, the upper lug 1c having greater width than the lower lug Id for a purpose hereinafter tobe described.

The vertical side wall of the housing I toward the left, Fig. 1 is provided with a circular opening 8 which is horizontally alined with the aforesaid housing opening'3. A solenoid or electromagnetic pole structure 9 formed from suitable magnetic material is secured exteriorly to said last named side wall in alinement with and closing the opening 8 by suitablescrews or the like,

not shown. 'The pole structure is provided centrally thereof with a passa-geQa which extends horizontally therethrough, the passage 9a. being utilizable as hereinafter described.

' The pole structure 9 comprises a longitudinally extending section '91) of reduced diameter 'to which a sleeve H is suitably secured, as by a press-fitting operation. The sleeve- I [has a solenoid coil or winding I2 wound or disposed there- 'on many other suitable manner, the coil [2 being enclosed by electricity-insulating members 13 as shown. The coil I2 is housed by a cylindrical shell M which, atone end, rests upon the pole structure 9. The ends of the sleeve 11' and the .shell l4 toward the left-"Fig. 1, terminate substantially in the same vertical plane whereas the adjacent end of the coil I2 terminates short of this plane. The resulting space is filled by a ring I 5 which, preferably, is welded to the aforesaid sleeve i l as indicated at "5. The flange of a threaded nozzle I1 is held flatwise against the ring l 5 by a plurality of screws l8 which pass ing relation, with one terminal of the coil I 2, the

other terminal of which is grounded onto the metallic shell l4 and the conductor 22 being suit ably connected to said shell [4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the handle l9 carries a cylindrical sleeve or bushing 23 in which is disposed a plunger 24 biased in an upperldirection' by a helical spring 25 disposed around one end section of a flexible wire 26 movable in a c'able 21, the other end section of the wire '26 ,p 'OJ"ecting from said cable}! and extending through a passage formed in acap member 28 threaded) to the aforesaid nozzle 11, said wire 26 terminat ing, preferably, int'he'pa'ssage formed injs'aid nozzle 11. As shown, the opposite ends of the cable 21 are secured, respectively,- to the capmember 28 and to the sleeve or bushing. 23. 7 As will be understood, the arrangement last described constitutes a 'IBowden 'wire device as known in the art. v

In accordance with the invention, ,a cam-carrying tubular member 30 is fiournaled for rotatable movement in the chamber 2 of the housing 'I .'In the form of the invention shown, the head 4 and the pole structure 3 thusserve for rotatably supporting the tubular member 3'0. TOmthiS end and as illustrated, the pole structure'S, con-- centrically with. respect to its passage 9a, is shaped to form a circular recess 90 whichreceives and rota-ta'bly supports a collar 31 secured to one end of the tubular; member 30.. The other end of the tubular member 30yis received in the above described central passage of the head 4-, a flange 30a of said tubular member 30 coasting with the adjacent surface of. thehea-d 4 to iimit movement ofv said tubular member 39 in a direction from left to right, Fig. 1. In this manner; the tubular member 30545 supported for free rotatable movement in-the. horizontal position shownin Fig.1. 1 a

The passage of the tubular member 30- receives and supports a shaft filinfreely slidable relation,.the inter-iorsurfaoeof the tubular member 30 and the exterior surface of the shaft 32 being provided with longitudinally extending grooves and ribs, alternately disposed, whereby said tubular member 30 andsaid shaft splined to eachother.

The end section of the shaft .3z toward the left, :Fig- 1-, extends freely through and is supported in the passage 9a of the pole structure 9 and the extreme end of saidshaf-t '32 is connected to a solenoid core member 33 freely slidable in a-ohamberIform-ed by a .part'of the aforesaid sleeve 1 4-. As shown, an anti-friction thrust 32 are effectively 61) extends through the thrust bearing 36 and terminates within the helical spring 35.

The collar section 32b of the shaft 32, which has the same diameter as the clutch ring 1, comprises vertically alined recesses 32c and 32d having peripheral length slightly greater than that of the respective clutch ring lugs lo and Id described above.

In accordance with the invention, the camcarrying tubular member 30 comprises a section 30b of reduced diameter on which a clutch ring 7 31, the hub 38a of a cam 38 and a locking ring hearing '34 is disposed between ashouldered end I of the shaft 32 and said-corelmember 33.

The .end section of the shaft '32 toward the 7 right, Fig. 1, is shaped to form a longitudinally extending passage 32a and an-enl'argedbcollar section 32b, both being-concentrically disposed "craft engine.

39 are mounted. Opposite faces of the clutch ring 3-! are serrated as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. One set of these serrations cooperates with similar serrations formed on the face of a flange Soc of the tubular member '30. The other set of these serrations cooperates with similar serrations formed on the adjacent face'of the cam hub 38a.

I The tubular member comprises a threaded section with which the locking ring '39 is associated, this locking ring '33, when threaded to its limit toward the right, Fig. 1, coacting with the cam h-ub 38a to hold the latter together with the clutch ring 31 in proper operative relation, that is, with the serrations on one face of the clutch ring 31 engaging the serrations on the flange 30c and with theserr-a tions on the other face of said clutch ring 31' engaging the serrations on the cam hub 38a. I i

The hereinbefore described housing I has formed therein lower and upper passages -40 and H which are disposed in vertical alinement when the mechanism is positioned as shown in Fig. l. The lower passage 40 has a sleeve 42 seated therein and the lower open end of'this sleeve 42 is closed'by a cap member "43, the sleeve and cap member being secured to the housing 1 by screws 44, or equivalent, Fig. 2.

The passage defined b the sleeve '42 receives, in freely slidable and non-rotatable relation, the non-circular base 45a of a camfollowerdB, said base 45a supporting a pin 46 carrying a cam rollerW-l with which the cam 38 is coactable in themannerhereinafterdescribed. I The cam follower. 45 comprises an intermediate section formed with an elliptical opening 45b or equivalent, Fig. 2, through which extends the aforesaid tubular member 30 and shaft 32, the opening '452) being of such size and shape as to prevent mechanical interference between the tubular member 30, the cam hub 3811 together with the clutch ring 3'! on the one hand and the cam follower 45 on the other hand during reciprocation of the latter.

The cam follower "45 further comprises an upper section 450 freely slidable in the upper pa'ssage 4 l of the housing I and in the alined.pa ssage of a threaded nozzle, 41a secured to said housing I by screws 48 or the like. t

A cap member 49 secured to the nozzle 48 is provided with an opening through which extends a wire 50. One end of this wire 56 is connected to the cam follower 4 5 and the other end thereof is connected to a suitable trigger motor 5'l, for example, as known in the art of firing machine guns and comprising a helical spring 52 tending to draw the cam follower 45 in an upward direction, Figs. land 2. As shown, the wire 50 maybe enclosed by a suitable. cable 53, Fig. 2.

In accordance with the invention, the herein- "before described shaft 6 has connected thereto a shaft, not shown, which is rotated by the air After installation on an aircraft firing operation by actuation of the known memof a device of the character described, the shaft 6 should be operatively connected to the aircraft engine as described above and the wire 50 should be connected to the trigger motor Thereupon, with the aircraft engine non-operative, the aircraft propeller is movedmanually to the position which it is to occupy, approximately, when a bullet from the machine gun is to be fired between the propeller blades, such movement of the aircraft propeller being accompanied, of course, by movement of the engine pistons, crank shaft and the herein described shaft 6. As hereinafter described, the bullet is fired when the'high section of the cam 38 moves the cam follower 45 downwardly, Figs. 1 and 2, against the action of the trigger motor spring 52.

After the aircraft propeller has been moved to the position described above and while it remains stationary, the screws or studs which retain the pole structure 9 on the housing I are removed whereupon the entire solenoid structure is removedas a unit from the casing I, the tubular member 30 and the'shaft 32. Thereupon, the shaft 32 is moved longitudinally to cause the clutch ring lugs 1c, hi to be disposed within the respective clutch recesses 32c, 32d. While the shaft 321s thus positioned, the lockingring 39 is retracted on the tubular member 30 and the cam 38 moved rotatably on the section 3% of the tubular member 30 to such position that the high section of said cam 38 assumes its lowermost position to thereby hold the cam follower 45 in its lowermost position whereby the trigger motor spring 52 is compressedto its maximum extent, this being necessary, as known in the art, to cause the machine gun 'to be fired. Thereupon, the locking ring 39 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 to thereby positively retain the cam 38 in its selected position. The clutch ring 31, the opposite sets of teeth of which are staggered, serves, in the described positioning of the cam 38, to introduce a fineness of adjustment otherwise not obtainable.

During flight of the aircraft and while the machine gun is non-operative, the shaft 32 is held by the spring 35 in its extreme position toward the left, Fig. 1, whereby the clutch face of said shaft 32 is disengaged from the clutch face of the ring 1, Accordingly, when the shaft 32 is positioned longitudinally as last described, the shaft 6 rotates. freely but this rotation is without effect ber in the trigger motor 5!. v

on the shaft 32 which remains stationary at this time.

, When it becomes desirable or necessary to operate the machine gun, the, circuit through the solenoid windingis closed at the switch 20 whereby the core member 33 is moved from left to right, Fig. 1, t0 the position shown to thereby move the shaft 32 in the same direction and effect engagement of the clutch face at the end thereof with the clutch face on the ring 1, the core member 33 being magnetically held against the-pole structure 9 and, hence, remaining stationary, when positioned as last described, during continuous rotation of the shaft 32. By this action, the shaft 32 is connected to the constantly rotating shaft 6 and is rotated thereby at the same speed as said shaft 6. As described, the tubular member 30 is splined to the shaft 32 and, therefore, said tubular member 30 and the shaft 32 rotate together as a unit. The cam 38, which is carried by the tubular member 30, once for each revolution of said unit, engages the cam roller 41 to thereby move the cam follower 4 5 downwardly and effect the When operation of the machine gun is to be discontinued, the switch 20 is released to thereby deenergize the solenoid winding whereupon, by action of the spring 35, the shaft 32 is moved longitudinally from right to left, Fig. 1, to dis engage the clutch face at the end thereof from the clutch face on the ring 1. Thereafter, while the solenoid winding remains deenergized, the shaft 32 together with the tubular member 38 remain stationary even though rotation of the shaft 6 continues so long as the aircraft motor continues to operate.

An important feature of the invention relates to the arrangement comprising'the tubular'member 30, the shaft 32 which is splined thereto and the associated parts. The trigger motor spring 52 holds the cam follower roller 4'! constantly in engagement with the cam 38. At all times, therefore, lateral force is applied to the tubular member 3|] by said spring 52. By reasonof the fact that the tubular member 30 is journaled in bearings formed by the head 4 and the pole structure 9, such lateral force is dissipated in said bearings and is not applied to the shaft 32. The tubular member 30, then, shields the shaft32 from the lateral force'of the trigger motor spring 52 and, accordingly, said shaft 32' is freely movable in a longitudinal manner either under control of the electro-magnet or the spring 35. At the same time, by virtue of the splined connection between the tubular member 33 and the shaft 32, the latter serves its intended purpose of rotating the cam 38 to operate the trigger motor;

Accordingly, with an arrangement of the character described, the power of the solenoid winding I2 may be low compared with the solenoid'power required by those prior art machine gun synchronizing devices wherein the force of the trigger motor spring is applied constantly to the cam shaft of the synchronizing mechanism. With the mechanism of my invention; by reason of the fact that the force. of the trigger motor spring 52 is not applied 'to the shaft 32, it follows that energization of the solenoid winding l2 initiates firing of the machine gun instantly, positively and in a trouble-free manner. Further, particularly by reason of the low power required for operating purposes, the mechanism as a whole may be small and compact. Still further, by reason of the low power requirements, it becomes practical to utilize the supplementary manual operating device as disclosed in the event of failure of the electrical control for the solenoid'winding i2.

Thus, shouldthere be failure of the electrical control system, the plunger 24 maybe depressed to thereby move the wire 26 into engagement with the core member 33 whereby force is applied to said core member 33 and to the shaft 32 to move the latter from left to right, Fig. 1, and cause engagement thereof with the rotating clutch ring I. v

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that, whenever the clutch is engaged, the same relation always obtains between .the shafts 6 and 32. In other words, there is but one relative position of said. shafts with respect to each other in which the clutch will engage. This is desirable because contributing to theexactness of the synchronizing operation.

' The anti-friction thrust bearings 3d and 36 cooperate at the respective ends of the shaft 32 to reduce friction, the thrust bearing 34. operating, during rotation of said shaft 32 to decrease fric tion between the end of the shaftand the station: ary core member 33 and the thrust bearin 34- oooperating with the spring 35 for a similar purpose. v e

As pointed out above, the shaft 32 operates without having lateral force applied thereto and, therefore, when moved from left to right, Fig. 1, there is little shock or impact between the clutch faces when they engage. i

A major advantage of .the invention residesin the fact that the tubular member 30 and shaft 32 rotate only during continuance of the firing operation. Compared to those prior art devices wherein the cam shaft rotates continuously; the mechanism of my invention is advantageous because decreasing bearing wear as well as wear on the cooperative cam surfaces.

The mechanism of my invention is free. from shims, eccentrics and the like as ordinarily used for adjusting purposes in prior art devices. Excepting. the adjustment of the operating cam circumferentially of the tubular member 30 no other adjustments are required with respect to my novel mechanism which, therefore, is well adapted for installation and care by unskilled labor.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and. scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 433,363, filed March 4, 1942.

What is claimed as new and desired to be socured by letters Patent is:

1. In mechanism of the character d-escribedxa housing having alined openings, a headlclosing one of said openings, an electro-magnetic'pole structure closing theother of said openings, a tubular member 'journ'aled for rotatable movement in said head and said pole structure, a shaft slidably disposed within saidv tubular member,

said shaft for all positions thereof being arranged in power-transferring relation with respect to said tubular member, one end of said shaft being journaled in said pole structure and the other end thereof terminating in a clutch face disposed in a passage formed in said head, a shaft adapted to rotate constantly and having a clutch face disposed in said passage adjacent said first named clutch face, means comprising said pole structure for moving said first named shaft in one direction to connect said clutch faces, and means-for moving said first named shaft longitudinally in reverse direction to disconnect it from said rotatin means.

2. The combination of a driveshaft, a driven shaft mounted in alignment therewith for both rotary and endwise movement, the; driven shaft having a recess in its end adjacent the driveshaft, means on the shafts brought into action when the driven shaft is moved endwise in one direc tion to connect the shafts together, a hearing within the recess having one element seated against the drive shaft, a spring within the recess bearing against the other element of the bearing and acting on the drivenshaft to move it in one direction, and a solenoid having a core connected operatively to the driven shaft, the solenoid being effective upon energization to move the core and the driven shaft against the action of the spring.

3. The combination of a drive shaft, a driven shaft mounted in alignment therewith for both rotary and endwise movement. The driven shaft having a recess in its end adjacent the drive shaft, meanson the shafts brought into action when the driven shaft is moved endwise in one direction to connect the shafts together, a bearing within the recesshaving one element seated against the drive shaft, a spring within the recess bearing against the other element of the bearing and acting on the driven shaft to move it in one direction, and a solenoid having a pole structure through which the driven shaft extends and also having a core with arecess in which a part of the driven shaft is received, the solenoid being effective upon energization to move the core and the driven shaft endwise against the action of the spring.

4.. In mechanism of the character-described, the combination of a drive shaft, a tubular member in alignment'wi-th the drive shaft, hearings in which the member is mounted for rotation, a driven shaft mounted within and extending through the tubular member and freely movable endwise therein, means connecting the member and driven shaft for rotation in unison in any longitudinal position of the driven shaft, means on the shafts operable to connect them when the driven shaft is in one longitudinal position, a

spring acting on the shafts and biasing the driven shaft endwise in one direction, and asolenoid operable to move the driven shaftendwise in the other direction.

5. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a tubular memher in alignment with the drive shaft, bearings in which the member is mounted for rotation, a driven shaft mounted within and extending through the tubular member and freely movable endwise therein, means connecting the member and driven shaft for rotation in unison in any longitudinal position of the driven shaft, means on the shafts operable to connect them when the driven shaft is in one longitudinal position, a spring acting on theshafts and biasing the driven shaft endwise in one direc-ti-on, a solenoid having a ,pole structure with a passage through which the driven shaft extends, and a core within the solenoid having a recess containing a thrust bearing, the driven shaft having a portion seated on the thrust bearing and the solenoid being operable to move the core and driven shaft endwise in the other direction.

6. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a drive shaft, a tubular member in alignment with the drive shaft, bearings in which the member is mounted for rotation, a driven shaft mounted within and extending through the tubular member and freely movable endwise therein, means connecting the member and driven shaft for rotation in unison in any longitudinal position of the driven shaft, means on the shafts operable to connect them when the driven shaft is in one longitudinal position, a spring acting on the shafts and biasing the driven shaft endwise in one'directio-n, a solenoid havinga core with which a portion of the driven shaft is operatively connected, the solenoid being operable to move the driven shaft; endwise in the other direction, and manual means operable to apply force through the core to the driven shaft to move it endwise in said other direction.

' VICTOR F.'ZAHODIAKIN. 

